LOC20:46
17:46 GMT
Gaza
UNITED NATIONS, May 16 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday
was "profoundly concerned" at the escalation of violence in Gaza among
Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas, and the growing number of casualties on
both sides, his spokesperson Michele Montas told the daily press briefing.
"The deadly factional fighting has included unacceptable attacks on
Palestinian Authority installations, institutions and personnel, and endangers
civilians throughout Gaza," she said.
"Equally unacceptable," she added, "is the firing by Palestinian militants
of rockets into Israel, targeting and injuring civilians."
She said Ban "calls on all Palestinian factions to cease immediately all
acts of violence. He calls on President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ismail
Haniyeh and the Palestinian Authority government to bring violence to an end
and restore calm."
Ban underlined the obligations on all parties involved to act in "strict
accordance with international human rights and humanitarian law", and to
ensure that humanitarian operations can continue without impediment. (end)
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